PAUL GOES ON A CRUISE IN THE FLYAWAY.
"There has been a gentleman here to see you," said Mrs. Duncan, when
Paul went to the house.
"Who was he?"
"He left his name and residence on a piece of paper, and wants you to
call and see him this evening," replied Mrs. Duncan, handing him the
address of the gentleman.
"Charles Morrison, Chestnut Street, third house from the depot," said
Paul, reading the paper. "What does he want?"
"He said something about hiring your boat next week."
"What, the Fawn?"
"I suppose so; but he wants to see you, at any rate."
"Does he want me to go with her?"
"I'm sure I don't know."
After supper Paul went to see Mr. Morrison, and found that he wanted the
Fawn for the whole of the following week, and that he did not want a
skipper. He was going down to Bleakport to spend a week, and he wanted
a good boat, which he could not procure at the place. He offered to pay
fifteen dollars for the use of her, and to restore her in as good
condition as when he took her.
This was certainly a good offer, and Paul concluded that he could not do
better; but he was not prepared to give a decided answer, and promised
to see the gentleman again the next evening.
On his return home he found Henry Littleton and Thomas Nettle waiting
for him. The arrangements in regard to the excursion in the Flyaway had
been completed, and the two boys had come to urge Paul to join them.
"When do you sail?" asked Paul.
"Next Friday."
"And how long shall you be gone?"
"About eight or ten days," replied Henry Littleton. "My father is going
with us."
"I have got a good offer for the use of my boat next week," answered
Paul, musing, "and I don't know but I will go."
"That's right, Paul; we must have you with us, at all events."
"Father says we ought to have you with us," said Henry.
"I will talk with my mother about it, and if she is willing, I think I
will go."
"We have talked with your mother already, and she is perfectly willing
you should go."
"I will let you know to-morrow."
The boys left him, saying he must certainly go with them, and Paul went
into the house to talk over the matter with his mother.
"Do you think I can go, mother?"
"To be sure you can go," interposed John. "What is the use of talking
about it?"
"I didn't ask you John," said Paul, with a smile.
"I don't see why you can't go," replied Mrs. Duncan. "I suppose there is
no more danger of your getting drowned than there would be if you stayed
at home."
"He will certainly be drowned, mother," added John.
"We shall be safe enough."
"Then you had better go."
"I have got a chance to let the Fawn for fifteen dollars; and that would
be about as much as I should make if I stayed."
"And if you let her, I shall go skipper. Shan't I?" demanded John.
"I think not; Mr. Morrison will be his own skipper."
"Then I won't agree to it. I am part owner of the Fawn," said the first
mate, pouting like a school-girl.
"You agreed to let me manage the Fawn at the beginning," added Paul.
"You can't do anything with her alone, except run her on the rocks."
"I don't want you to manage me out of her in that manner," growled
John. "I have as good a right in her as you have, and I don't mean to
stay on shore here a whole week, sucking my fingers, when there is fun
to be had."
While they were discussing this important question, which even
threatened a rupture in the partnership between the young fishermen,
Captain Littleton was admitted by Mrs. Duncan.
"What's the matter, boys? You are not quarrelling, I hope," said Captain
Littleton, as he entered the room, for he had heard a portion of one of
John's excited speeches while at the door.
"O, no, sir," replied Paul. "I have got a chance to let the Fawn for a
week, and John is opposed to my doing so."
"Is he? I am sorry for that. Mr. Morrison spoke to me about a boat for
the week, and I recommended him to you. I had a motive for doing so, for
I want you to join the excursion in the Flyaway. I thought you would
like to go, if you could do so without any loss."
"Thank you, sir. I should like to go very much; and when I got this
chance to let the Fawn, I about made up my mind to go."
"Then it is all right; but I am sorry John will not consent to the
arrangement."
"I don't want to stay on shore a whole week," pouted the first mate of
the Fawn. "If they would only take me as skipper, I should like it first
rate. What shall I do with myself for a whole week on shore?"
"I don't see as I can go, then," added Paul.
"Well, I don't want to keep you from going, Paul;" and a better feeling
seemed to be roused in John's bosom.
"I can't afford to let the Fawn lie idle for a week, in the busy
season," continued Paul.
"Can't I go a-fishing in her while you are gone?"
"Certainly not; you can't have my share to smash up on the rocks," said
Paul, a little tartly. "You know you ran the boat on the rocks this very
afternoon."
John felt a little lame here, and he did not venture a reply. He had
sacrificed his reputation as a navigator by carelessly attempting to run
too near the reef, and he felt that his brother's conclusions were
correct.
"Well, at any rate, I won't keep you from going in the Flyaway, whatever
I do. I will agree to let her to Mr. Morrison."
"That's generous, John. You have got the right kind of a heart beneath
your jacket, though you have an odd way of showing it sometimes," said
Captain Littleton.
"John means right, sir," added Paul.
"I like to have a little fun myself, as well as the rest of the
fellows," continued John, "but I am willing to stay at home for Paul's
sake."
"That's the right feeling, my boy," replied Captain Littleton; "and if
your mother is willing, you may go in the Flyaway."
"Hoo-ray!" shouted John, jumping out of his chair, and performing some
gymnastic feats that astonished the visitor and the family. "I may
go--mayn't I, mother?"
"I have no objection, if Captain Littleton thinks it is safe."
"He will be as safe as my own son, Mrs. Duncan," added the captain.
"Hoo-ray!" shouted John again.
"Come, my son, behave yourself, or they won't want such an unmannerly
fellow in the company."
"I will be as polite as a French dancing-master."
John was in luck again, and for the following three days he talked of
nothing but the cruise of the Flyaway. Even sailing in the Fawn seemed
tame to the idea of going off one or two hundred miles, and visiting
towns and cities he had never seen, and had never before expected to
see. He could hardly sleep nights, and when he did sleep, it was only to
dream of being out of sight of land, or of occupying a berth in the
cabin of the yacht.
Paul concluded his bargain with Mr. Morrison, and made all his
preparations for an absence of a week or ten days--a longer time than he
had ever been away from home before. He cleaned up the Fawn for Mr.
Morrison, and split wood enough to last his mother a fortnight. It had
already been decided that the yacht should go to the eastward, and
visit Gloucester, the Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth, and Portland; and to
be prepared for the excursion, he carefully studied all the maps and
books he could procure, which gave any information in regard to these
places.
The Flyaway was to sail on Friday at high water. For more than a
fortnight, Captain Gordon had been training the boys of the Tenean Club
to serve as "able seamen" on board the yacht. There were twelve of them,
including Paul, who were to join the party. More than half of them were
sixteen or seventeen years old; so that they were strong enough to do
all the work required in the management of the vessel. They were all
well trained, and every one of them knew his duty on board.
Besides Captain Gordon, who was to command the yacht, there was Captain
Briskett, who had for many years been the master of a coasting vessel,
and knew every rock and shoal between Boston and Eastport. Dick, the
colored steward, was to retain his place during the cruise. Captain
Littleton was to go as a passenger. John Duncan was nominally appointed
cabin boy.
Friday came, and the officers and crew of the Flyaway were all on board.
The anchor had been hove short, and the mainsail hoisted; the hour for
sailing had arrived, and she only waited the coming of Captain
Littleton. He had gone to Boston that morning, and his return was
momentarily expected.
When the amateur crew had grown very impatient at his non-arrival, he
appeared; but only to inform them that he had just received a
telegraphic despatch from New York, which would compel him to start for
that city in the afternoon.
"Now, boys, what is to be done?" asked he. "Will you postpone the trip
for a week?"
"I suppose we must," replied Henry; but the faces of the whole crew were
wofully elongated.
"I must give it up altogether, then," added Paul, bitterly disappointed;
and John was ready to howl at the idea of not going.
"I will see what can be done," continued Captain Littleton, as he called
Captain Gordon.
For a few moments they were engaged in earnest conversation together,
and the boys waited with anxious interest for the result of the
conference.
"Captain Gordon thinks he can take care of you, and I have concluded to
let you go without me."
"Hurrah!" shouted several of the boys.
"But, boys, I must put you on honor to behave well during the cruise.
Will you do it?"
"We will."
"And obey the orders of Captain Gordon in all things, whether you are on
board or on shore?"
"We will," replied all the boys at once.
"Very well; I shall trust you. If I return soon enough to join you at
Portsmouth, I shall do so. Good-by, now, and a pleasant cruise to you;"
and Captain Littleton went over the side.
"Good-by, sir," replied the crew.
"That's first rate--isn't it?" whispered Tom Nettle, as the captain
departed. "I am glad he isn't going."
"So am I," replied Frank Thompson.
"We shall not have him watching us all the time. Let me tell you, there
is fun ahead now," added Thomas.
Captain Briskett, who was to be first officer of the Flyaway, as well as
pilot, summoned them to the windlass to heave up the anchor; and in a
few minutes the yacht was standing down the harbor under all sail. The
Teneans gave three rousing cheers, and then distributed themselves in
various parts of the deck to enjoy the exciting scene.
"All hands aft," said Captain Gordon, when the yacht had reached the
open bay.
"Ay, ay, sir," replied several, as the crew took their places in the
standing room.
"Now, boys, we must make our arrangements. When a ship goes to sea, it
is customary to divide the crew into two watches. I shall take the
starboard watch, and Captain Briskett the larboard. Each of us will
choose a man in his turn till all are taken."
"Go on," said Captain Briskett.
"Henry Littleton," replied the skipper.
"Paul Duncan," added the pilot.
And so they proceeded till all the boys were chosen, except John, who
resented the slight thus put upon him. To satisfy him, therefore, he
was taken into the captain's watch.
"There are only eight berths in the cabin, boys, and you must draw lots
for them," continued the master; "but they are all wide enough to hold
two each. Now, if you want to pair off, you can do so."
Lots were drawn, and Paul and Henry were to occupy the same berth. Again
John found himself thrown out of the calculation; but the captain said
he would make a bed for him on a locker, and he was satisfied. The boys
then went below to see their berths, which had all been numbered for the
occasion.